Selector mechanism for typewriters



June 15,1926. 1,589,159

G. A. HENRIQUEZ E! AL SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed NOV. 14, 1925 Aid/ ndra fil UZ, BY W ATTORNEYS Fatented June 1926.

srarss i.S89,i59

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GEORGE HENRIQUEZ; OF NEW YORK, AND ALEJANDRO DIAZ, QF BROOKLYN, NEW YQRK.

SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS.

Application filed November 14, 1925.

This invention relates to a selector mechanism for electrical circuits and has particular reference to a selector mechanism adapted to be used when connected with an electrically operated typewriter or an electrically actuated mechanism for an ordinary typewriter.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, eiiicient and durable device to enable a predetermined message or communication to be set up by a selector mechanism by any person and then rapidly transmitted over an electrical circuit to a typewriter mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple construction which will enable an electric circuit to be opened and broken in a selective manner with regard to the character of the mechanism to be actuated at the other end of the circuit.

A further object concerns the provision of a simple and efiicient means whereby a selective mechanism can be made compact in a simple, economical manner so that the cost of manufacturing it would be reduced to a minimum.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, of which Figure 1 is a plan view of the device.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4: is an end elevation of the rotating contact device.

In its general aspect the invention comprises a block of insulating material in which is disposed a plurality of metallic lates. The block and the plates are pierced y a large number of holes which are preferably arranged in a continuous spiral row. These holes are adapted to receive pins which can be placed there by any boy or person unskilled in operating an electrical apparatus. These pins are insulated excepting at the top and bottom thereof, and the lower end of each pin is adapted to make contact with a predetermined one of the metallic plates. The length of the pin determines the plate with whlch it makes contact. The upper end of the'pin is'in the form of a conducting head. The heads of these pins lie in grooves on the upper surface of the bar and are contacted with by a rotary brush which sweeps successively over the pins.

Serial No. 69,169.

Each of the metallic plates is connected to a separate electrical wire each leading to a suitable apparatus to be actuated. Consequently, when the rotating brush sweeps over the heads of the rows of pins the various wires selected are thus momentarily enei= gized to actuate the apparatus. In the preferred form the apparatus to be actuated is a plurality of magnets associated with an electrical typewriter so that each time the wire is energized a type bar is actuated or some other function on the typewriter is performed.

The preferred form of the apparatus as shown in the drawings comprises a selector block, preferably made of a plurality of superposed insulating plates such as 10 to 17 inclusive. Between these plates are disposed a series of metallic plates such as 18 to 24.

Formed in the upper surface of the top plate 10 is a spiral groove 25 which extends from the outside edge of the block as at 26 to the center of the block such as 27 (see Figure 1). A series of holes 26 are drilled down through the insulating blocks and the metallic plates along the spiral groove, so that the holes extend from the top to the bottom of the block. In these holes a plurality of pins of conductive material 27 are adapted to be disposed. Each pin has an upper head 28 and a lower head 29. The main stem of each pin is surrounded by an insulating sleeve 30 beyond which at each end the heads 28 and 29 project. These pins are pushed into any desired hole and the heads 28 lie in the bottom of the groove 25, asshown in Figure 3, so that the rotating contact brush 31 projecting into the groove can make contact successively with the series of heads. It will be understood that the length of the pin determines the particular metallic plate with which the connection is to be made. As shown in Figure 3 the pin makes contact with the plate 21, Whereas in Figure 2 the four pins shown are making contact with plates 20, 21, 23 and 24.

The rotating contact pin 31 is backed by a spring 32 mounted in a recess in a head 33 which is pivotally connected to a slidable sleeve 33 having an aperture or bore 34 therethrough to receive a rod 35. This rod 35 has a stop'head 36 on its outer end and at its inner end is connected to a sleeve 37. This head or sleeve 37 is insulated by a sleeve 38 from a shaft 39, which has a collar 40 adjustable on the lower end thereof. A spring brush 41 bears against the sleeve or head 37. This spring is insulated by a plate 42 from the frame bar 43. This frame bar is only one of three frame bars 43, 44, and which extend at equal angles to each other on the center of the block and thereabove and act at their meeting points as a support for the shaft 39. Each of the bars 43, 44 and 45 are formed with a vertical downwardly extending flange 46 (see Figure 2) adapted to be bolted to the side of the selector block. The spring brush 41 is connected to the bar 43 by arivet 47, which, however, is insulated from the bar 43. A'binding post 48 also connects to the spring brush 41.. The shaft 39 is journaled in a bearing 49 and has on its upper end a bevel gear 50 meshing with a bevel gear 51 mounted on a shaft 52 bearing on a loracket 53 on the bar 45. This shaft 52 "may be connected to any suitable source of The head 33 on which the pin 311s mounted, is forked at its upper end to embrace the-lower portion of the slidable sleeve 33*,

and is pivoted thereon by a pin 55. A. curved portion 56 pm the upper ends of the forked portion permits the contact member to be swung to one side as desired.

lln the operation of the device the contact member with its supporting mechanism is slid to the outermost portion of the spiral groove and then the shaft 52 is rotated by any suitable mechanism, causing the contact member to travel successively over the pins disposed in the apertures 26. As contact is made betwen the contact member 31 and the various heads 28 of the pins, circuits are established through the selected metallic ,aplates. each of'which is connected by a suitable wire to the mechanism to he actuated. This mechanism may be electro-magnets associated with an electrically operated typewriter so that the proper functions of the typewriter may be performed by the selective actuation of the'magnet. Preferably the top of each pin on the head 28 is marked with the letter or character which this pin represents. In the case of an electrical typewriter mechanism each plate represents a character, and when the proper pin is inserted in any hole contact with said pin will cause the circuit to be closed to the magnet in the typewriter, the energizetion of which will cause the actuation of the type bar carrying said character and will therefore cause its printing. Consequently letters and many other forms of communication can be very readily set up by evema small boy who will have a copy of the letter in front of him and can insert the pins in the successive holes. When the contact pin 31 is moved to the inner end of the groove it can jbe swerved to one side and then the sleeve 533 slid along the bar until it reaches the stop collar 36. Then the contact pin 31 is moved downwardly to rest in the beginning of the groove 25 again.

What we claim is:

A selector mechanism which comprises a body portion of insulating material, a plurality of spaced, conductive plates disposed thereon, a plurality of apertures extending through the body portion of said plates from one surface thereof to the other, said apertures arranged in a spiral manner, said body having a spiral groove formed in one surface thereof, a movable contact brush adapted to be moved in said groove, means for moving said bruslr and a plurality of contact pins of different lengths adapted to be inserted in the series of apertures to make contact with desired plates, whereby the circuits to which said plates are connected may he energized.

GEORGE A. HENRIQTUEZ. ALEJANDRG DIAZ. 

